Tradescantia plant named ‘Nanouk’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Tradescantia  plant named ‘Nanouk’, characterized by its compact and upright to broadly spreading plant habit; strong and healthy leaves; light purple, green and greyed green-colored leaves; and good interiorscape performance.

Botanical designation: Tradescantia albiflora.

Cultivar denomination: ‘NANOUK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Tradescantia plant, botanically known as Tradescantia albiflora and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Nanouk’.

The new Tradescantia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sappemeer, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact Tradescantia plants with attractive flower coloration and good performance.

The new Tradescantia plant originated from a cross-pollination in 2012 in Sappemeer, The Netherlands, of two unnamed seedling selections of Tradescantia albiflora, not patented. The new Tradescantia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Sappemeer, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Tradescantia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Sappemeer, The Netherlands since March, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Tradescantia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Tradescantia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Nanouk’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Nanouk’ as a new and distinct Tradescantia plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright to broadly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Strong and healthy leaves.     -   3. Light purple, green and greyed green-colored leaves.     -   4. Good interiorscape performance.

Plants of the new Tradescantia and the parent selections differ primarily in leaf color as plants of the parent selections have white and green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Tradescantia can be compared to plants of the Tradescantia spathacea ‘Tricolor’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Tradescantia and ‘Tricolor’ differ primarily in leaf shape as plants of new Tradescantia have shorter and more rounded leaves than plants of ‘Tricolor’.

Plants of the new Tradescantia can also be compared to plants of the Tradescantia albiflora ‘Albovittata’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Tradescantia and ‘Albovittata’ differ primarily in leaf color as plants of ‘Albovittata’ have white and green-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Tradescantia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Tradescantia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Nanouk’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical plant of ‘Nanouk’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 12-cm containers during the winter in a glass-covered greenhouse in Sappemeer, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Tradescantia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C. Plants were 18 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Tradescantia albiflora ‘Nanouk’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Tradescantia             albiflora, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Tradescantia             albiflora, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Thick; typically whitish in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium in density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact             and upright to broadly spreading plant habit; flattened             globular in overall shape; low vigor to moderately vigorous             growth habit; good interiorscape performance with plants             maintaining good quality for one to two years.         -   Plant height.—About 8.9 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 8.6 cm.         -   Basal branches.—Length: About 4.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Aspect: Variable, between 30° and 80° from vertical. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, developing:             Close to 148A. Color, developed: Close to darker than 148A;             axially-striped, close to N77D; at the internodes, close to             N77C to N77D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Distichous; leaves simple and sessile.         -   Length.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate, sheathing.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Slightly concave.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; at the base, sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N75A to             N75D; variable stripes, close to 147A. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to NN78A; variable stripes, close to             N186B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 75B             and N75D; variable stripes, close to NN137A, 147A and 189A.             Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to NN78A;             variable stripes, close to 79A and N186B. -   Flower description: To date, flower initiation and development have     not been observed on plants of the new Tradescantia.     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Tradescantia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Tradescantia have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Tradescantia plants. -   Temperature performance: Plants of the new Tradescantia have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 40° C. and     to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Tradescantia plant named ‘Nanouk’ as illustrated and described. 